Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has disclosed that he nearly lost his position during the political crisis surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa and allegations linked to lawmaker Desmond Elliot.
Key Highlights:
•Femi Gbajabiamila says he nearly lost his job over Desmond Elliot
•Tinubu reportedly confronted Gbajabiamila during Obasa impeachment crisis
•Chief of Staff denies backing moves against Lagos Assembly leadership
•Gbajabiamila says Tinubu questioned him over Elliot’s alleged involvement
•Former Speaker claims he warned Desmond Elliot to stay away from crisis
•Political tension rocked Lagos Assembly during Obasa speakership saga
•Gbajabiamila credits relationship with Tinubu for surviving controversy
Gbajabiamila made the revelation on Thursday while speaking at a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives addressed allegations surrounding actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot and the leadership crisis that shook the Lagos State House of Assembly.
According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu personally summoned him to Abuja at the height of the controversy and demanded explanations over reports that Elliot was allegedly among lawmakers involved in moves to destabilise the Assembly leadership.
“I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. The President invited me to his residence in Abuja during the Obasa saga and confronted me over reports that Desmond was among those causing problems in the Lagos Assembly,” Gbajabiamila said.
He disclosed that Tinubu questioned him because of his close relationship with the Surulere lawmaker.
“Mr President called me into his study and said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy.’ I replied, ‘Yes sir.’ He then said Desmond was among those involved in the crisis,” he recounted.
Gbajabiamila said he immediately defended Elliot and insisted that the lawmaker was not part of any plot against the Assembly leadership.
“I told the President that Desmond was not part of them, but he insisted and instructed me to call him to order,” he added.
The Chief of Staff further revealed that he later contacted Elliot directly and advised him to avoid involvement in the political dispute if he was connected to it in any way.
“Three days later, the Director-General called me and said there was serious tension and that my name was everywhere as the person backing Desmond for impeachment moves,” he stated.
Gbajabiamila said he urged Elliot to publicly distance himself from the controversy, but claimed the lawmaker never released any statement clarifying his position.
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“I told Desmond to publicly declare that he was not part of them, but till today he has not done that,” he said.
He added that his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu eventually helped him survive the political storm.
“If not for the relationship I have with the President today, I probably would not still be here as Chief of Staff,” Gbajabiamila stated.
The Obasa impeachment crisis generated significant political tension within the Lagos political structure and sparked debates over loyalty, influence, and internal power struggles within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
